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Sarkozy's Party Suffers Defeat at Local Polls

Voters steamed over economy, president's marital drama

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2008 8:21 PM CDT
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(Newser) – French voters dealt Nicolas Sarkozy another blow today in the second round of local balloting. The maverick president's right-wing UMP party lost mayorships in Strasbourg and Reims to opposition socialists, who also gained Toulouse and held on to power bases in Paris and Lyon, the BBC reports. UMP retained control of Marseilles.

The elections concerned local issues like parks, but that voters treated it as a referendum, with 7.5% unemployment and Sarkozy's marital life key problems. Sarkozy prepared himself for defeat, saying he would “take into account” what voters expressed. But the Socialist Party head had more specific advice: “Before reshuffling his government, he should reshuffle himself, the way he behaves and does things.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy casts his vote in the second round of the local elections, Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2008.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy casts his vote in the second round of the local elections, Paris, Sunday, March 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Philippe Wojazer, Pool)
President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered a serious setback in the second round of the French local elections, the BBC says.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered a serious setback in the second round of the French local elections, the BBC says.   (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
A man prepares to count votes from a ballot box at the Pau city hall, southwestern France, after the closing of the polling station, Sunday, March 16, 2008.
A man prepares to count votes from a ballot box at the Pau city hall, southwestern France, after the closing of the polling station, Sunday, March 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
People count votes, the one seen being in favor of centrist Modem candidate Francois Bayrou, at Pau city hall, southwestern France, after the polling station closed, Sunday, March 16, 2008.
People count votes, the one seen being in favor of centrist Modem candidate Francois Bayrou, at Pau city hall, southwestern France, after the polling station closed, Sunday, March 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
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Nicolas Sarkozy • France • Paris • Carla Bruni • Marseille • French elections • Lyon • Toulouse • Strasbourg • Caen

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